Fire destroys garage near Sisters - CLARIFICATION

Firefighters doused a blaze last Sunday that destroyed a garage in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates before it could blow up into a major brush fire.

Deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and firefighters from the Sisters and Cloverdale fire districts were dispatched at 5:39 p.m. to 17105 Palomino Dr. the home of Spurge Cochran. Arriving firefighters and deputies found the garage to be completely destroyed and the surrounding brush on fire burning towards nearby residences.

The Black Butte Ranch Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry also responded and helped quickly contain the fire to approximately 1.5 acres. No other structures were damage by the fire.

Sisters Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler told The Nugget on Monday that the cause of the fire was determined to be staining rags left in the garage near gasoline containers.

That is an all-too-common source of ignition for fires, as oily rags can spontaneously combust.

Wheeler said that homeowners should take special care to properly handle rags soaked in stain or paint thinner.

"The best way to take care of them is to fill up a metal bucket with water and stuff them into the water," he said.

Wheeler reported that damage to the garage is estimated at $45,000. There were no injuries.